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A 32-year-old police sergeant from Mthata's VIP Unit has been arrested for allegedly being in possession of 551kg of copper worth an estimated R30 000.
Police spokesperson, lieutenant Nkosiko Mzuku, says the policeman was arrested in Wilsonia in East London on Wednesday morning.
He says its alleged that the policeman was trying to sell the copper in the area when a member of the public tipped off the Cambridge police.
Mzuku says the copper has been positively identified as belonging to Buffalo City Municipality, Eskom and Telkom.
The policeman suspect will appear in East London Magistrate Court soon on charges of possessing suspect stolen property.
He will appear in court soon.
The Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Operations Officer, Eastern Cape Major General Zamuthonga Mki said: "We as the SAPS Management condemns this kind of conduct within the organisation and also promise to have punitive measures taken against the member concerned."